| Clumping Bamboo Tip Top Picks for Privacy Screening | Image | #2 Pot | #5 Pot | #15 Pot | #25 Pot |
| #9) Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis':
The Gracilis is a small statured clumping bamboo with green canes forming tight dense clumps with a vertical growth habit and nodding cane tops.
In the Sacramento Valley and the SF Bay area it grows 20 feet tall with canes up to 1.25 inches in diameter. The younger canes frequently show an attractive powdery blue color.
Several attributes of this bamboo have led us to consider it to be the premier clumping bamboo for privacy screening including: 1) the tightly clumping growth habit enabling it to provide privacy in a relatively narrow area, 2) the 20 foot height of this bamboo provides the necessary screening for most customer's privacy needs, 3) the low-branching growth habit provides leaves for privacy lower down on the canes compared to higher-branching bamboos, 4) the great tolerance to winter low temperatures compared to other clumping bamboos in the genus Bambusa, 5) the relative ease of bamboo removal should an owner want the bamboo removed from their landscape (a landscaper equipped with only a pair of loppers and a pick/mattock can remove an entire well established plant), 6) the many ways this bamboo can be manicured in the landscape to give different looks, and 7) the magnificient beauty of this bamboo cultivar. Full sun is preferred and this bamboo is rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society. When planting the Gracilis next to a 6 foot fence the plants will reliably provide a dense screen of leaves above the fence line to provide privacy. We recommend planting each Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis' plant in the middle of a 3 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant. Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. |
| - | 2 gallon pots are in stock for $85, 4'+ tall 5 gallon pots are in stock for $95 to $175 each (price depends upon the size, plants for $150 are 8'+ tall) in stock on 10-20-2024 |
15 gallon for $295. Most are 12'+ tall. in stock on 10-20-2024 |
25 gallon: call for pricing in stock on 08-11-2024 |
| #2)
Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr':
Alphonse Karr is a small statured clumping bamboo with gold canes bearing random dark green stripes.
It grows with tight dense clumps having a vertical growth habit.
In the Sacramento Valley and the SF Bay area it grows 12 to 20 feet tall (usually 15 feet) with canes up to 1 inch in diameter.
This is probably the most common clumping bamboo used in the residential landscape.
When planting Alphonse Karr next to a 6 foot fence the plants will reliably provide a dense screen of leaves above the fence line to provide privacy.
Full sun is preferred and this bamboo is rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society.
We recommend planting each Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' plant in the middle of a 3 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant. Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. |
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1 gallon Alphonse Karr 1-9 plants for $45 each, 10-24 plants for $40 each, 25-49 plants for $35 each, 50-99 plants for $30 each |
5 gallon Alphonse Karr 1-4 plants for $75 each, 5-9 plants for $65 each, 10+ plants for $55 each 7-8-2024: in stock and ready to go. |
15 gallon Alphonse Karr 1-4 plants for $175 each, 5-9 plants for $165 each, 10+ plants for $155 each 7-8-2024: in stock and ready to go. |
20 and 25 gallon Alphonse Karr 20 gallon 1-4 plants for $475 each, 5-9 plants for $450 each, 10-24 plants for $400 each, 25-49 plants for $350 each, 50+ plants for $300 each
25 gallon 1-4 plants for $675 each, 5-9 plants for $625 each, 10-24 plants for $550 each, 25-49 plants for $500 each, 50+ plants for $400 each. 7-8-2024: in stock and ready to go. |
| #10-B) Bambusa textilis 'Dwarf': A full sun clumping bamboo with dark green canes. A cultivar of Bambusa textilis that is shorter and less erect than Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis'. One can expect The Textilis Dwarf to grow about 15 feet tall in the SF Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley. This bamboo is from a Bambusa textilis seedling that Roy Works sold to Rockledge Gardens in Florida and they have been selling it for a good number of years as a dwarf version of textilis and it has remained about half size of regular Bambusa textilis. The American Bamboo Society offically designates this bamboo as Bambusa textilis 'Dwarf' which is what we call it. Other nurseries have implemented common names including "Bambusa textilis 'RG Dwarf'", "Bambusa textilis Dwarf Graceful Bamboo", "Weaver's Bamboo Dwarf", Dwarf Weaver's Bamboo, Textilis Dwarf, and probably other names as well. Full sun is preferred and this bamboo is rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society. When planting textilis Dwarf next to a 6 foot fence the plants will reliably provide a dense screen of leaves above the fence line to provide privacy. We recommend planting each plant in the middle of a 3 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant. Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. |
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5 gallon $150 each, limited supply |
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| #4) Bambusa multiplex 'Midori Green': A full sun clumping bamboo with a mostly vertical growth habit. Canes are gold colored with random vertical green stripes.
It typically grows to 15-20 feet tall in Northern California with canes up to about 1.25 inches in diameter. This is a common clumping bamboo used in the residential landscape.
Full sun is preferred and this bamboo is rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society.
When planting the Midori Green next to a 6 foot fence the plants will reliably provide a dense screen of leaves above the fence line to provide privacy. We recommend planting each Bambusa multiplex 'Midori Green' plant in the middle of a 3 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant.
Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. Minimum USDA Zone 8B. |
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5 gallon 1-4 plants for $85 each, 5+ plants for $75 each |
15 gallon: Please call for pricing. | 25 gallon: Please call for pricing. |
| #11) Bambusa textilis 'Scranton': A full sun clumping bamboo with a vertical growth habit. Great for privacy screening. Typical S.F. Bay area height is about 17'. In the Sacramento Valley it tends to grows
to about 20'. Its maximum height under optimum growth conditions is 30 feet tall with canes up to 2 inches in diameter when mature. Rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society. Minimum USDA Zone 8B.
Full sun is preferred and this bamboo is rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society.
When planting textilis Scranton next to a 6 foot fence the plants will reliably provide a dense screen of leaves above the fence line to provide privacy. We recommend planting each plant in the middle of a 3 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant.
Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. |
 | - | 5 gallon: 1-4 plants for $85 each, 5+ plants for $75 each |
15 gallon for $295 | 25 gallon please call for pricing |
| #7) Bambusa textilis (Weaver's Bamboo):
Bambusa textilis is a larger statured clumping bamboo with dark green canes and a vertical growth habit.
The new canes frequently show an attractive powdery blue coloration.
This bamboo produces a very dense wall of bare canes up to about 10 feet high, as shown in the picture to the right, with a canopy of canes and leaves above 10 feet.
We call this growth habit the "Wall of Canes" look.
The wall of bamboo canes provides privacy at the lower heights (below 10 feet) and the canopy of leaves and canes provide privacy higher up (above 10 feet).
Once the plants fill in densely with canes they provide privacy from the ground level up to the top of the plants at 30 to 40 feet high.
The bamboo canes grow to the somewhat large diameter of 2 inches wide.
Full sun is preferred and this bamboo is rated to 18 °F by the American Bamboo Society.
We recommend planting each Bambusa textilis plant in the middle of 4 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant. Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Larger Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. |
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5 gallon Weaver's Bamboo $95 each 6-24-2024: in stock and ready to go. |
15 gallon Weaver's Bamboo $195 - $295 each (Monster Sized Plants Available) 6-24-2024: in stock and ready to go. |
20 gallon Weaver's Bamboo for $395 - $495 each 25 gallon |
| #1)
Bambusa chungii (Tropical Blue Bamboo, Emperor's Blue Bamboo):
This is a fast growing larger statured clumping bamboo that produces a very dense wall of bare canes up to about 10 feet high, as shown in the picture to the right, with a canopy of canes and leaves above 10 feet up to about 30 feet. We call this growth habit the "Wall of Canes" look. The wall of fat bamboo canes provides privacy at the lower heights (lower than 10 feet) and the leaves and canes provide privacy higher up (above 10 feet). The bamboo canes grow to the rather large diameter of 2.5 inches wide which is the diameter of a can of soda. This is a full sun clumping bamboo with a vertical growth habit. The new canes have a heavy white powder coating giving them a blue tone. Rated to 21 °F by the American Bamboo Society. We recommend planting each Bambusa chungii plant in the middle of a 4 foot or larger diameter circle of soil dedicated to the plant. Additional planting details applicable to this and other "Larger Statured Clumping Bamboos" are given father down on this webpage. | 
| - | 5 gallon pots on sale for $95, regularly $150 in stock on 6-24-2024 |
15 gallon pots on sale for $195, regularly $295 in stock on 6-24-2024 |
25 gallon: Please call for pricing in stock on 6-24-2024 |
Figure 1. Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis' (a.k.a. Graceful Weaver's Bamboo, Slender Weaver's Bamboo) growing for the purpose of privacy screening in a 3 foot wide by 27 foot long planting area. This bamboo is a small statured clumping bamboo and it is considered one of the premier bamboos for property line privacy screening.
Considerations for Planting Clumping Bamboo Cultivars
Many people prefer to use clumping bamboo cultivars because they can be responsibly grown in the ground without the use of underground rhizome barrier. Rhizome barrier is typically only used for running bamboo varieties and there is some cost associated with the barrier itself and there is usually a large cost associated with installing rhizome barrier.
Figure 2. Clumping bamboo planting diagram for privacy screening. For smaller statured clumping bamboos the minimum recommended bamboo planting area width (B) is 3 feet and the range of lengths to consider for the plant center to center distances (A) is 3 feet to 6 feet. For larger statured clumping bamboos the minimum recommended bamboo planting area width (B) is 4 feet and the range of lengths to consider for the plant center to center distances (A) is 4 feet to 6 feet.
Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos
For smaller statured clumping bamboos (defined herein as having the ability to grow 6 to 20 feet tall) we recommend the bamboo growing area be at least 3 feet wide and preferably wider. In a 3 foot wide growing area you can give each plant a 3 foot diameter circle of soil which is what we consider to be the functional minimum amount of space required. To achieve a complete screen of bamboo that you cannot see through above a solid 6 foot tall fence we recommend planting smaller statured clumping bamboos every 3 to 6 feet, center to center, along a line parallel to the fence and separated from the fence by at least 1.5 feet. This is one of the most common scenarios for planting bamboo as property line privacy screening. Generally speaking, you should plant the centers of your clumping bamboo plants half of your available growing away from the fence. If you are giving your clumping bamboo plants a 3 foot wide growing area next to a fence you should plant the centers of the plants 1.5 feet away from the fence. If you are giving your clumping bamboo plants a 4 foot wide growing area next to a fence you should plant the centers of the plants 2 feet away from the fence.
Larger Statured Clumping Bamboos
For larger statured clumping bamboos (defined herein as having the ability to grow taller than 20 feet) we recommend the bamboo growing area be at least 4 feet wide and preferably wider. In a 4 foot wide growing area you can give each plant a 4 foot diameter circle of soil which is what we consider to be the functional minimum amount of space required for a larger statured clumping bamboo. To achieve a complete screen of bamboo that you cannot see through above a solid 6 foot tall fence we recommend planting larger statured clumping bamboos every 4 to 6 feet, center to center, along a line parallel to the fence and separated from the fence by at least 2 feet. Growing clumping bamboos in areas narrower than our recommended minimums results in more frequent, more difficult, and more expensive maintenance costs over the years to come (especially with regard to the process of rhizome pruning which is how the size of the footprint of a clumping bamboo is properly maintained). Generally speaking, you should plant the centers of your clumping bamboo plants half of your available growing away from the fence. If you are giving your clumping bamboo plants a 4 foot wide growing area next to a fence you should plant the centers of the plants 2 feet away from the fence. If you are giving your clumping bamboo plants a 6 foot wide growing area next to a fence you should plant the centers of the plants 3 feet away from the fence.
If you would like to see our selection of Running Bamboo Cultivars for Privacy Screening please click here.
Additional clumping bamboos we sell that can be used for privacy (generally our recommendations gravitate to the clumping bamboos listed above for privacy):
Smaller Statured Clumping Bamboos:
#1-B) Bambusa chungii 'Barbellata' (Barbie Bamboo)
Larger Statured Clumping Bamboos for Privacy: These bamboos are higher branching cultivars that grow 25' - 40' tall and require a minimum space of a 4 foot circle of soil for each plant. No rhizome barrier is required to plant these in the ground.
#7-B) Bambusa textilis 'Albostriata'
#3) Bambusa multiplex 'Eddie Gaedel'
#4-B)Bambusa multiplex 'Silverstripe'
#4-C) Bambusa multiplex 'Wavy Goldstripe'
#9-B) Bambusa textilis 'Kanapaha'
